When the Miami Dolphins launched their front office and coaching searches earlier this year, there was a surprising new face in the room: Hall of Fame quarterback and longtime broadcaster Troy Aikman. While his addition to the process raised a few eyebrows, Aikman quickly became a key voice in reshaping the Dolphins’ leadership - and he’s confident the team got it right.
Aikman joined the Dolphins’ GM search in January, and what started as a short-term advisory role quickly evolved. He told Rich Eisen during Super Bowl week that the process was so engaging, he couldn’t say no when owner Stephen Ross asked him to stick around for the head coaching search as well.
Now, Aikman’s influence is all over the Dolphins’ offseason decisions. And while his fingerprints are visible, it’s the insight he brought to the table that’s resonating most within the organization.
Aikman Sees the Right Leadership Taking Shape in Miami
Speaking with Eisen, Aikman drew comparisons between the Dolphins’ new hires and some of the top young coaching minds in the NFL today - specifically Mike Vrabel and DeMeco Ryans. That’s high praise, especially coming from someone who’s spent the last 25 years studying the league from the broadcast booth after a Hall of Fame playing career.
One name Aikman was particularly bullish on? Jeff Hafley.
“I’ll tell you, I felt that way about Jeff Hafley a year ago, back in ’24, when we first did the Packers,” Aikman said. “Our first production meeting with Jeff, I remember saying to our crew, ‘this guy’s going to be a head coach real soon.’
And he already had been in college. I believe he checks all the boxes, I really do.”
That early impression clearly stuck. Aikman had a front-row seat to Hafley’s football mind during ESPN’s Monday Night Football prep, and it left a mark - one that may have helped shape Miami’s coaching hire.
From the Booth to the Boardroom
So how does a former quarterback turned broadcaster end up helping steer a franchise’s future?
It turns out Aikman didn’t seek out the role - the Dolphins came to him. He admitted he was surprised when the call came, and he credited former Miami head coach Jimmy Johnson for recommending him to the organization.
For those wondering what kind of insight Aikman could possibly offer in a front office search, it’s worth remembering that he meets with every NFL team throughout the season as part of ESPN’s production process. That means hours of in-depth conversations with coaches, coordinators, and front office executives - a unique vantage point that few outside the league possess.
That perspective came into sharp focus during a Monday Night Football broadcast late in the season, when Miami faced the Steelers. The Dolphins were officially eliminated from playoff contention that night, and Aikman saw firsthand how poorly the team was being coached. At the time, he had no idea he’d soon be called in to help fix it.
A Rare Move for Ross - Guided by Aikman’s Input
Stephen Ross has rarely looked outside the Dolphins’ building when making major hires, but Aikman’s involvement helped change that. The result? The team brought in Tampa Bay executive Dennis Hickey as general manager - just the second time Ross has gone external for a GM hire.
Hickey, who once reported to Mike Tannenbaum, brings a fresh perspective to a franchise that’s been stuck in neutral for much of the past decade. Joining him is Jon-Eric Sullivan, a product of Green Bay’s front office pipeline and someone Aikman believes has learned from some of the best minds in the game.
Aikman noted that the Dolphins cast a wide net in their search, interviewing numerous executives and coaching candidates before zeroing in on Hafley and Hickey. It wasn’t a rushed process - it was deliberate, and, if the hires pan out, potentially transformative.
Aikman’s Early Read: The Dolphins Are on the Right Track
Aikman had been tracking Hafley’s trajectory for over a year, and his instincts proved right - Hafley is now an NFL head coach. Whether Aikman expected to be part of that journey is another story, but his involvement in Miami’s search process added a layer of experience and perspective that the organization clearly valued.
Now the question becomes: will these hires deliver?
Time will tell, but if Aikman’s evaluation proves accurate, the Dolphins may have finally found the leadership duo to steer the franchise toward long-term success. For a team hungry to escape the middle of the AFC pack, that’s exactly what they need.